USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
Columbus Elliot is indebted to the old Bea- con school in North Litchfield township for the educational privileges which were afforded him. When not engaged with the duties of the school- room he worked upon the home farm and in 1814 he came to Nokomis township, where he was employed at farm labor. On February 24. 1876, he wedded Matilda II. Slocum, a dangh- ter of AAaron Slocum. a native of England, who in his later life made his home with Mrs. Elliot. his death occurring June 16, 1892. His wife had died in Madison county, Illinois, where the family home had been established prior to the marriage of their daughter. They had three children, but one died in infancy and the sister of Mrs. Elliot was Sarah J. Slocum, who be- came the wife of Theodore L. Covert, a resident of Webb City, Jasper county, Missouri, by whom she had six children, five of whom are now liv- ing. Mrs. Elliot was educated in the schools of Edwardsville. Illinois, from which she was
graduated. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children: Arthur Leroy, now twenty-six years of age, married Bertha Fox and is living in Rountree township, where he follows farming. Fred, twenty-two years of age, was educated in the Fair Prairie school and is at home. Edna Estella, twenty-one years of age, was also educated in the Fair Prairie school and is now the wife of Bennett Leach, a resi- dent farmer of Ada. Minnesota. James Milton, eleven years of age, is attending the Audubon school. Lucy is a student in the same school.
After his marriage Mr. Elliot resided in Rountree township, where he made his home for fourteen years and then removed to Nokomis township, where he rented for eight years. On the expiration of that period he settled in Au- dubon township, where he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres, upon which he now re- sides. His property possessions have come to him as the result of his persistent effort and untiring diligence. Ile has met with fair suc- cess-in- farming and stock-raising and he now has-a valuable tract of land, one hundred and sixty acres .in. Andubon township, which is well improved, and also eighty acres in Rountree township. In his political views he is a Demo- crat, having supported the party continuously since attaining his majority. Both he and his wife belong to the Zion Chapel Methodist church in Audubon township and are members of the Mutual Protective League, while he is also con- nected with the Modern Woodmen of America.
W. L. CURRY.
W. L. Curry, who for six years has been superintendent of schools in Fillmore and is accounted one of the capable educators of cen- tral Illinois, was born in Walshville township, Montgomery county, December 10, 1863, his parents being R. J. and S. D. Curry. His great- great-grandfather in the maternal line was Daniel Boone, the famous explorer and hunter of Kentucky. His father. R. J. Curry, was born in Pike county, Missouri, and was schoolmate of Brigham Young, the noted Mor- mon leader. He was also one of the mob that drove Joseph Smith out of Nauvoo, Illinois,
148
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
and prevented the planting of the Mormon col- ony in this state. Mr. Curry was reared in Pike county and after attaining man's estate he followed general farming and veterinary surgery. He became an early settler of Illinois and won a reputation as a stock dealer, being widely known, especially for the fine horses which he raised.
W. L. Curry, whose name introduces this rec- ord, spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and acquired his early education in the schools of Montgomery county. He afterward continued his studies in Danville. Indiana, where he spent three years as a student. He has since devoted his time and energies to edu- cational work and has taught for nineteen years in Montgomery county, the entire time being devoted between four schools. No higher testi- monial of his capability could be given than the fact that he has been so long retained as teach- er in a single community. Six years ago he was appointed superintendent of the schools of Fillmore and has since remained in charge here. He is constantly studying to improve the methods of instruction so as to make school work more effective and valuable as a prepara- tion for life's practical duties. He has intro- duced many new and improved methods and under his guidance the schools have made satis- factory and rapid progress. Professor Curry is now engaged in merchandising, having opened a store in the new Knights of Pythias building. which was erected in Fillmore in 1904.
About fifteen years ago Professor Curry was united in marriage to Miss Alice Green, and they have become the parents of five children, but only two are now living: Ralph Wayne and Rolla Glenn. The parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in its work, taking a helpful part in various church activities. Professor Curry is also identified with the Knights of Pythias frater- nity and with the Modern Woodmen camp and his political allegianee is given to the Repub- lican party, for he believed that its principles contain the best elements of good government. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in Montgomery county. where his entire life has been passed and where he has ever labored to
advance the interests which tend to the de- velopment of the high standard of citizenship and of material. social, intellectual and moral improvement. Ile is a man of strong purpose, unfaltering in his support of his honest eon- victions and his entire career has been actuated by high and honorable motives.
REV. THOMAS MASTERSON.
Rev. Thomas Masterson, pastor of St. Agnes' Roman Catholic church, of Hillsboro, was born in County Longford, Ireland, February 2, 1850. His father, Peter Masterson, was a farmer by occupation and died in 1903 at the very venerable age of one hundred and three years. His wife, Margaret Sheridan, died at the age of eighty years. They were the parents of seven children, all sons, and three of the number are now deceased. The living brothers of Father Masterson are Bernard. who is serv- ing as district judge of San Francisco, Cali- fornia ; Michael, who is a bookbinder of Pea- body, Massachusetts: and James. who carries on agricultural pursuits in Ireland.
Father Masterson began his education in the public schools at Moyne, Ireland, and at the age of fourteen years entered upon a classical course there, which he completed by graduation at the age of nineteen years. He next matricu- lated in All Hallows College in Dublin, Tre- land. from which institution he was graduated at the end of five years' course of study in theology. He was at that time twenty-four years of age and was ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church by Bishop Whelan.
In 1874 Father Masterson came to the United States, making his way to Alton. Illi- nois. and was first in charge of St. Mary's church at Mound City, Illinois, where he re- mained for five years. He then went to Cairo, Illinois, where he acted as pastor of St. Pat- rick's Catholic church for three years and for a similar period he was pastor at Paris, Illi- nois, three years at Winchester. this state, four years at Carlinville, and then came to Hills- horo in 1899 to accept the pastorate of St. Agnes' Catholic church. which was established in 1869. There is now a membership of three
REV. THOMAS MASTERSON
LIBRARY OF THE HIPPITY OF ILLINOIS
151
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
hundred, which number has increased fifty per cent during the incumbency of Father Mas- terson. The parish and its various branches of church activity are in a flourishing condi- tion and Father Masterson, in addition to his work among his people in Hillsboro, is secretary of the Litchfield deanery, which embraces Mont- gomery, Christian. Fayette and Bond counties. His political allegiance is given to the Demoe- racy and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus.
HAROLD HOOD.
Harold Hood, promoter of many of the busi- ness enterprises and interests of Litchfield which are now contributing to its prosperity and upbuilding and conducting all affairs in harmony with modern, progressive ideas, has by intense and well directed activity won for himself a foremost position among the leading young men of the city and has also gained ste- cess that enables him to control important in- vestments. Litchfield is his native city and the Path of May, 1872, the date of his birth. He represents one of the old and prominent fam- ilies of Montgomery county. In his grand- father's family there were ten children, six of whom reached adult age. Of these Joseph Hood died in Litchfield, Illinois. John, an officer of the Confederate Army, died at John- son's Island, Ohio, in 1865. Griffith was drowned near Grafton, Illinois, in 1850. Per- haps the best known of the brothers was Benja- min Smith Hood, who died February 15, 1904, at the home of his son in Wellington, Kansas. IIe settled in Montgomery county near the pres- ent site of Litchfield, where he embarked in the drug business with his brother, Joseph, con- tinuing therein for several years. De enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Infantry, the first regi- ment that went to the front from Illinois. In 1863 he became one of the promoters of the I'mion Monitor, published at Hillsboro. and did much to build up Union sentiment in what was then a pro-slavery section of the state. Ile was editor of the paper, afterward purchased the interests of his partners, and removed the paper to Litchfield. where he conducted his
journal until 1822. At his death his remains were brought back and interred in the Litch- field cometery. "Benjamin S. Hood was a newspaper man who had few superiors," said the Wellington ( Kansas) Monitor-Press. "He was a ready writer, the master of a graceful and pleasing style and the possessor of a wide fund of information. His tastes were scholarly and his ideals high." An original Abolitionist, he became a stanch Republican. His first wife was Miss Mary T. Jackson, who died in 1866. leaving two children: Charles, one of the editors and proprietors of the Monitor-Press ; and Miss Mary Hood, superintendent of pri- mary work in the public schools of Oak Park, Illinois. In 1885 he was married to Mrs. Mary Jackson, widow of a brother of his first wife, and she now lives in Jerseyville, Illinois.
Harold Hood is a son of Dr. H. Il. Hood, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. He was educated in the schools of Litchfield and he entered upon his business carcer in 1888 in the employ of the Jacksonville & St. Louis Railroad as a messenger boy. Subse- quently he was promoted successively to bill clerk, yard clerk and cashier, and remained with the road until March, 1892, when he en- tered the service of the Litchfield Car & Ma- chine Company, as paymaster, thus serving until 1894. In that year he went to St. Louis, where he entered the auditor's office of the St. Louis, Peoria & Northern Railroad. now the Illinois Central. In 1898 he went upon the road as traveling passenger agent for the Illinois Central and thus continued until 1900. when he became agent for the road at Litch- field, serving in that capacity until April, 1903. Mr. Hood succeeded his father, Dr. H. IL. Hood, as secretary of the Oil City Building & Loan Association, upon the latter's death, in Febru- ary, 1903. and has since been active in the man- agement of its interests. In May, 1904, he or- ganized a brokerage business, entering into partnership with David Davis : Jacob J. Frey, of Hillsboro, and James E. Calvin, also of Hillsboro, under the firm name of H. Hood & Company. They have interests in two hun- dred acres of land sontheast of the town, near the plant of the American Radiator Company, and they build houses for sale on the install-
152
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ment plan, and have thus contributed in large measure to the substantial upbuilding and im- provement of that scetion of the city. Mr. flood is also one of the promoters, in connec- tion with David Davis, of the American Radia- tor Company, manufacturers of radiators. The various business interests with which he is connected are proving important enterprises of Litchfield and in their control he is displaying excellent business capacity and foresight.
In his political views Mr. lood is a Re- publican and is now serving as alderman from the fourth ward, but does not take an active part in political work. Fraternally he is a Mason. belonging to Charter Oak lodge, No. 236. A. F. & A. M., and also to the Elks lodge of Litchfield. In his business career his adapta- bility and energy found recognition in ready promotion, and from humble surroundings he has advanced to a position of prominence in business circles.
GEORGE FOOKS.
The enterprising village of Waggoner num- bers George Fooks among its leading business men. He has here resided during the past seven years and during the last two years has ireen engaged in dealing in lumber and coal. Realizing that success is not a matter of ca- price or of fortunate circumstances but is the direct result of labor guided by sound judg- ment, Mr. Fooks is carrying on his business affairs in a most energetic way and has there- fore secured a good patronage.
Born in Macoupin county, Illinois, on the 9th of June. 1861, he is a son of William Fooks, a native of England. The father remained in that country during the period of his childhood and carly manhood and was married in his na- tive land. Hearing favorable reports of Amer- ica's business opportunities, ho resolved to enjoy the advantages afforded in the new world and in 1848 emigrated to the United States. IIe made his way direet to Illinois, settling at Bunker Ilill. but misfortune overtook him dur- ing his early residence there, for he lost his wife and family of two children with cholera in 1849. He was there engaged in teaming
and fruit-growing. On the 26th of August, 1860, he was married again, his second union being with Jane Taggart, a native of Ireland. There were three children by this marriage whom she carefully reared after the death of her husband, which occurred December 20, 1825. She died on the 9th of April, 1886. From Bunker Hill William Fooks removed to Montgomery county, settling in Zanesville township upon a tract of land which he devel- oped into a good farm. He worked in the fields from the time of early spring planting until after the crops were harvested in the late autumn and by his labor and energy succeeded in transforming the place into a valuable farm property of two hundred and ten acres, his home being on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 3, Zanesville township, where he continued to reside up to the time of his death.
George Fooks, the only son of the family, was reared upon the homestead farm in Zanesville township and attended the district school near- by. The pleasures of the playground also occu- pied a full share of his attention, but he did not neglect the farm tasks that were assigned him. and after arriving at maturity he engaged in the operation of the old homestead farm. con- tinning the work of development and improve- ment there. In 1886 he was united in marriage to Miss Etta E. Sullivan, a native of New York and a daughter of Patrick and Rose (Kelly) Sullivan. They lived happily together for eight years and then Mrs. Fooks was called to her final rest January 14, 1895.
Not long after this Mr. Fooks rented his farm and spent two years in Raymond. In 1894 he purchased a grain business in Wag- goner, bought an elevator, and from 1897 until 1899 he owned the north elevator. He then purchased the south elevator. He made ex- tensive purchases and sales of grain, becoming one of the active dealers in this line in his locality, and in 1902 he extended his efforts to other fields of business activity by purchasing a lumber and coal yard. He then conducted this in connection with the grain trade until 1903, when he disposed of his grain business and of the elevators. He, however, continues to deal in lumber and coal and has a good patronage, his honorable business methods and
LIBRARY OF THE INNOEnCITY OF ILLINOIS
GEORGE FOOKS AND FAMILY
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM FOOKS
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
15%
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
earnest desire to please his patrons having so- enred him a growing trade. Ile is likewise a stockholder in the bank of Waggoner and has purchased good residence property in town. lle still retains possession of the old home place on the southwest quarter of section 3, Zanesville township, and has eighty acres in Pitman township, two hundred and eighty acres in Fayette county, Illinois, and forty acres in Montgomery county. Missouri, his landed pos- sessions now aggregating five hundred and sixty acres of rich land. All is improved with ex- ception of the eighty aeres in Pitman township.
Mr. Fooks was again married on the 19th of April, 1899. his second union being with Miss Ruth MeReynolds, a daughter of Dec and Mary J. ( Isabet ) MeReynolds, the former a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, and the latter an early settler of that county. There Mrs. Fooks was also born, but she was reared in Montgom- ory county. There is one son by this marriage, George Leland Fooks. Mr. Fooks advocates nected with the Knights of Pythias lodge. . A man of good business capacity, his honorable methods have won the confidence of all and he is justly classed with the substantial and promi- nent business men of Waggoner.
ISAIAH TOBERMAN.
Isaiah Toherman, one of the respected and worthy pioneer settlers of Montgomery county, well deserves representation in this volume and, in fact. no history of this locality would be complete without record of his life. He was born September 24. 1831. near Franklin, Pendleton county, West Virginia, and was the eldest son in a family of seven children. three sons and four daughters. His birthplace was a farm upon which his father had also been born, the family having resided in that locality for many years.
Isaiah Toberman had little opportunity to attend school for his services were needed on the old homestead and he worked from early morning until late at night. He was but nine years of age when he cultivated and raised nine
acres of corn and when he was still in his teens he was familiar with every department of farm labor and in the best methods of pro- ducing crops and raising stock. That the soil was not very productive is indicated by the fact that his father sold the entire farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres for twenty-tive dollars when he departed from West Virginia to Illi- mois. For a number of years he had a desire to seek a home in this then far western state and he endeavored in every possible means to gain a capital that wonkl enable him to make the journey with some degree of comfort and also enable him to gain a start in life here.
But erops were poor and he was unable to save money, so he resolved to start with only the meager sum that he realized from his farm. He hitched a team to an oldl wagon, which was in a very dilapidated condition, and then started for the Mississippi valley. Isaiah Toberman, who was then ten years of age, describes the parting with neighbors and Republican principles and fraternally is con-' friends at the old Virginia home as more like
a funeral than anything else. Everybody for miles around stopped work and came to bid them goodbye. Their trip was begun on the 4th of September, 1811, and Isaiah and his father took turns in riding one of the horses, while the other drove. They passed success- ively throngh Wheeling. West Virginia, and Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, reaching Indian- apolis, Indiana, on the 25th of September. The money had by that time become exhausted and they resolved to remain in the vicinity of Indianapolis until enough could be earned to enable them to continue the journey. They leased a fifteen acre farm between Indianap- ohs and Noblesville, of which ten aeres had been cleared and they were to have all they could make from the farm in return for clear- ing the other five acres. Not long after this the father's health failed and because of his invalid condition his two sons, Isaiah and Po- ter, supported the family. Three years were passed in Indiana and on the 1st of September. 1853. they again started for Illinois, this time with two wagons, crossing the Wabash river near Danville. While en route they heard fa- vorable reports concerning the new state of Iowa and decided to proceed further and in-
158
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
vestigate, but after crossing the Mississippi river at Burlington they were not favorably im- pressed with the lowa country and returned to this state, traveling through Beardstown and Jacksonville to Hillsboro,
Isaiah Toberman says that the county seat was then a very unpretentious village, having only two buildings worthy of note-the old courthouse and the academy. it length ar- rangements were made whereby they were to purchase one hundred and forty acres of land of Elza Sanders for one thousand dol- lars, the farm being located about a quarter of a mile south of Bost Hill church. When Isaiah Toberman had assisted the family in getting settled upon that place he returned to Indianapolis, where he obtained a position at running an engine for a pioneer sawmill and thus gained some ready money for the family. In March, 1855, he returned to Montgomery county and rented a tract of land in Fillmore township, upon which Henry Hanabarger now resides. He has since been actively and suc- cessfully connected with agricultural interests in Montgomery county and is to-day one of the most respected farmers within its borders.
After several years Mr. Toberman married. being joined in wedlock on the 29th of Jan- mary, 1859. to Mrs. Mary ( Harris) Scribner, a sister of Wooten Harris, of Hillsboro, now de- ceased. Ile made the journey to his bride's home on horseback and after the ceremony was performed they traveled in the same manner to a meeting at Bost Hill.
In the meantime Mr. Toberman had saved enough money to purchase sixty acres of land and thus investing his capital he and his wife took up their abode in a log cabin with a stick and dirt chimney. Later he bought a larger house of his brother-in-law. Joel Harris, for twelve dollars and paid for this in coin. In this house ten children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Toberman. In 1861 Mr. Toborman extended his labors into another department of agricultural activity, purchasing a horse power threshing machine and for many years he was one of the best known threshers of Mont- gomery county, making regular trips through this county and also Fayette and Bond counties until the year 1900. The work proved profit-
able and thus year by year he was enabled to add to his capital. In 1881 he embarked in the grain and hay business at Chapman and as there was no bank nearer than Hillsboro had to keep enough cash on hand to pay for grain which he bought. Ile conducted the grain trade and the threshing business and then added other business interests, including the cultivation of a large farm and the operation of two sawmills through the winter months. He possessed great energy and business capac- ity and the word fail never found a place in his vocabulary. In 1893, associated with his son Marion, he purchased the elevator at Fill- more and afterward bought the hay barn there. At present they own and operate elevators and hay barns at Fillmore, Chapman and Bingham, and that at Chapman is considered one of the best in the county. Mr. Toberman continued to reside upon his farm until August, 1898, when he removed to the village of Fillmore in order to superintend his varied business in- dustries with greater facility and dispatch.
Of the children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Toberman five are now deceased, namely : Roxy. Wellington, William IE., Thomas A., and one that died in infancy. Thomas A., who passed away at Coffeen, June 30, 1903, was a very popular young man who had already at- tained prominence in business circles. Those still living are: Marion F .. who is interested with his father in the grain trade at Fillmore and Chapman ; Joel H., who is living on the old homestead near Bost Hill; Benjamin E., who is engaged in the grain trade in Coffeen ; Flor- ence, the wife of H. F. Williamson. of Fill- more: and Walter II., who is connected with the grain business at Coffeen.
In his political views Mr. Toberman is a stalwart Democrat, having continuously sup- ported the party since casting his first presiden- tial ballot for Franklin Pierce. He is also a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance and has labored earnestly for the adoption of temperance principles and the suppression of the liquor traffic. In 1868 he became a mem- ber of the Lutheran church at Bost Hill, but afterward joined the Baptist church and is now an active worker therein in Fillmore. His wife, an earnest Christian woman, has been his
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.